Natural Remedy for Flea Allergies in Cats

Flea allergy dermatitis accounts for more than 50 percent of the reported cases of dermatological problems in cats. Rather than the physical bite causing irritation, in the case of a flea allergy the cat is actually allergic to the flea's saliva. Many cats are so sensitive that merely one bite can cause her to scratch and bite her skin until she has sores and lesions on her body. If left untreated, your cat can develop infections that could even prove life threatening. While chemical treatments are available, there also are effective natural treatments for flea allergy dermatitis.

  1. Rid Your Cat of Fleas

    • The best remedy for flea allergy dermatitis is to kill the fleas. Getting rid of fleas is a multi-step process. First, groom your cat daily. Place her on a white towel, which will allow you to see any fleas that jump off during the grooming. Use a fine-tooth comb to brush your cat from head to toe, making sure you don't forget her armpits and behind her ears. Dump any fleas that are on the comb into a cup of soapy water; this will kill the fleas. Pour the soapy water into the toilet. Shake the towel off into the toilet as well and flush the fleas away. Follow the grooming with a bath using an herbal flea-repellent shampoo. Only bathe your cat once a month to avoid drying out her skin. It's a good idea to bathe and groom other household pets as well.

    Rid Your House of Fleas

    • Clean all bedding (yours and your cat's) by washing in hot water and drying on high heat. Vacuum daily. Place your vacuum bag (if your vacuum uses one) into a sealed bag and throw it away after each vacuuming. There also are several herbs that are said to deter fleas, including rosemary, eucalyptus and citronella found in premade powders available at pet stores or online. You can also use diatomaceous earth, which consists of ground up fossils that dry up the exoskeleton of the flea and kill them. For your own safety, buy the diatomaceous earth at your pet store and not the product used for for pool filtration, since this is a very fine powder and can cause temporary respiratory problems. With any of these powder forms, sprinkle them on your carpet and leave them overnight. In the morning, vacuum the powder up. You can repeat this powder treatment every three to four days, as needed, until you have your flea problem under control.

    Treat the Wound

    • Now that you have gotten rid of the fleas, it is time to treat your cat's wounds. Your cat will most likely have hot spots and sores all over her back, which must be cleaned to avoid infection. Use dog clippers or a small pair of scissors to cut away the hair around the hot spots, since hair will hold bacteria next to the skin and irritate your cat, making her lick the area more. Be careful when you are using scissors around your cat-if she moves suddenly you could cut her. Soak a cotton ball in a liquid astringent, such as witch hazel, then dab the cotton ball on the sores. If you choose to use rubbing alcohol instead, be sure to water it down since it will sting. Finally, treat your cat's discomfort with an aloe vera gel. It is safe if your pet gets it in her mouth and will help alleviate the sting she feels from the open sores. You can also try German chamomile, witch hazel and marigold creams which can be found at some pet store or health food stores.